[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2660 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 387
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2660
To establish a grant program for wind energy research, development, and
demonstration, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 22, 2019
Ms. Smith (for herself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
December 18, 2019
Reported by Ms. Murkowski, with amendments and an amendment to the
title
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program for wind energy research, development, and
demonstration, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Wind Energy Research and Development
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
<DELETED> (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity''
means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) an institution of higher
education;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) a National Laboratory;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) a Federal research agency;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) a State research agency;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) a nonprofit research
organization;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) an industrial entity; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) a consortium of two or more entities
described in subparagraphs (A) through (F).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) National laboratory.--The term ``National
Laboratory'' has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Program.--The term ``program'' means the
program established under section 3(a).</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary of Energy.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Supersized turbine.--The term ``supersized
turbine'' means a 12-megawatt or greater wind turbine that
typically has a tower height greater than 140 meters and blades
greater than 75 meters.</DELETED>
SEC. 3. WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING
GRANT PROGRAM.
<DELETED> (a) Establishment.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
program under which the Secretary shall award grants on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities to
conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation of wind
energy technologies in accordance with this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) To improve the energy efficiency,
reliability, resilience, security, and capacity of wind
energy generation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) To optimize the design and control of
wind energy systems for the broadest practical range of
atmospheric conditions.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) To reduce the cost and risk of
permitting, construction, operation, and maintenance of
wind energy systems, including using technologies to
reduce environmental and community impacts, improve
grid integration, and reduce regulatory
barriers.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) To improve materials, engineering, and
manufacturing processes for turbines, including
supersized turbines.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) To optimize wind plant performance and
integration within hybrid energy systems to enhance
cost efficiency and electric grid stability and
resilience.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Coordination.--To the maximum extent
practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate activities under
the program with other relevant programs and capabilities of
the Department of Energy and other Federal research
programs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Grant Subject Areas.--In addition to awarding the
grants described in subsections (c) through (e), the Secretary shall
award grants under the program to eligible entities to carry out
research, development, testing, and evaluation in the following subject
areas:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Wind power plant performance and operations,
including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) wind flows and turbine-to-turbine
interactions;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) energy conversion potential;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) turbine and wind plant control
paradigms;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) turbine and wind plant
security;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) turbine components; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) integrated hybrid plant
systems.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) New materials and designs relating to blades,
rotors, towers, and drivetrains, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) higher tip speed rotor
designs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) low-noise rotor designs;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) advanced drivetrain and generator
concepts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) modular construction and onsite or
near-site manufacturing and assembly techniques,
including the use of additive manufacturing;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) sustainable and recyclable materials,
including thermoplastics, and manufacturing
systems;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) supersized turbine design and
installation approaches; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) lightweight materials.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Offshore wind-specific projects, including--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) fixed and floating substructure
concepts;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) projects to assess and mitigate the
impacts of hurricane wind flow, freshwater ice, and
other conditions specific to the United
States;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) innovative operations and maintenance
strategies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) analysis of offshore meteorological,
geological, and oceanographic data
collection;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) offshore infrastructure monitoring;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) analysis of corrosion and fatigue for
the purpose of extending the design life of offshore
wind turbine substructures.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Recycling and reuse of wind energy
components.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Wind power forecasting and atmospheric
measurement systems, including for turbines and plant systems
of varying height.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Distributed wind-specific projects,
including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) cost-effective turbine designs,
components, and manufacturing; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) microgrid applications.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) Advanced transportation mechanisms for wind
turbine components.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) Transformational technologies for harnessing
wind energy, including airborne wind energy concepts.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) Methods to extend the operational lifetime of
onshore and offshore wind turbines and systems.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (10) Other research areas, as determined by the
Secretary.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Wind Energy Technology Validation and Market
Transformation Grants.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Demonstration projects.--In carrying out the
program, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities
to carry out demonstration projects that demonstrate and
validate new wind energy technologies that have the potential
to be cost-competitive for land-based, offshore, and
distributed applications.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Facility for hybrid energy system research
grants.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall award
grants to eligible entities to establish a facility or support
an existing facility in conducting research and demonstration
projects for wind turbines and plants in hybrid energy systems
that incorporate diverse generation sources, loads, and storage
technologies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Offshore research facility grants.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) In general.--In carrying out the
program, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible
entities to establish a facility to conduct research,
development, and demonstration projects, in
coordination with the oceanic and atmospheric science
communities, for ocean and atmospheric resource
characterization relevant to offshore wind energy
development.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) Facility requirements.--A facility
established using a grant under subparagraph (A) shall
be an offshore facility used to evaluate, test, and
advance atmospheric, oceanic, biologic, and geologic
monitoring technologies that improve offshore wind
energy development, including the generation of
benchmark data sets for testing offshore wind energy
technologies and informing how those technologies may
be financed, insured, and regulated.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Offshore support structure testing facility
grants.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall award
grants to eligible entities to establish a facility to conduct
research, development, and demonstration projects for large-
scale and full-scale offshore wind energy support structure
components and systems, with an emphasis on innovative
structures, including floating substructures.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a
grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including, in the
case of an application for a grant under paragraph (1), a
certification that the proposed demonstration project shall
be--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) conducted in collaboration with
industry and, as appropriate, with institutions of
higher education and other Federal research programs;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) of sufficient size and geographic
diversity to measure wind energy system performance
under the full productive range of wind conditions in
the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Wind Energy Incubator Grants.--In carrying out the
program, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to
support innovative technologies that are not significantly represented
in--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the portfolio of wind energy research
activities carried out by the Secretary as of the date of
enactment of this Act; or</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) technology roadmaps used by the Department of
Energy as of that date.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (e) Mitigating Regulatory and Market Barrier Grants.--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) In general.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to research,
develop, test, and evaluate ways to reduce regulatory and
market barriers to the widespread adoption of wind power,
including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) grid transmission and integration
challenges; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) permitting issues associated with the
potential impacts of wind power systems on wildlife,
radar systems, local communities, military operations,
and airspace.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Wildlife impact mitigation.--Of the grants
awarded under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that a
substantial portion include the development, testing, and
evaluation of wildlife impact mitigation technologies or
strategies to reduce the potential impacts of wind energy
facilities on--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) bald and golden eagles;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) bat species;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) marine wildlife; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) other impacted species.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (f) Education and Outreach.--In carrying out the program,
the Secretary shall support education and outreach activities to
disseminate information and promote public understanding of wind
technologies and the wind energy workforce, including the Collegiate
Wind Competition.</DELETED>
(1) Economically distressed area.--The term ``economically
distressed area'' means an area described in section 301(a) of
the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 3161(a)).
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) a National Laboratory;
(C) a Federal research agency;
(D) a State research agency;
(E) a research agency associated with a territory
or freely associated state;
(F) a tribal energy development organization;
(G) an Indian tribe;
(H) a tribal organization;
(I) a Native Hawaiian community-based organization;
(J) a nonprofit research organization;
(K) an industrial entity;
(L) any other entity, as determined by the
Secretary; and
(M) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (L).
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(5) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(6) Native Hawaiian community-based organization.--The term
``Native Hawaiian community-based organization'' has the
meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).
(7) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program
established under section 3(a).
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(9) Territory or freely associated state.--The term
``territory or freely associated state'' has the meaning given
the term ``insular area'' in section 1404 of the Food and
Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
(10) Tribal energy development organization.--The term
``tribal energy development organization'' has the meaning
given the term in section 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
(25 U.S.C. 3501).
(11) Tribal organization.--The term ``tribal organization''
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
SEC. 3. WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
conduct research, development, testing, evaluation,
demonstration, and commercialization of wind energy
technologies in accordance with this section.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program are the
following:
(A) To improve the energy efficiency, cost
effectiveness, reliability, resilience, security,
integration, manufacturability, and recyclability of
wind energy technologies.
(B) To optimize the performance and operation of
wind energy components, turbines, and systems,
including through the development of new materials,
hardware, and software.
(C) To optimize the design and adaptability of wind
energy technologies to the broadest practical range of
geographic, atmospheric, offshore, and other site
conditions, including--
(i) at varying hub heights; and
(ii) through the use of computer modeling.
(D) To support the integration of wind energy
technologies with--
(i) the electric grid, including
transmission, distribution, microgrids, and
distributed energy systems; and
(ii) other energy technologies and systems,
such as--
(I) other generation sources;
(II) demand response technologies;
(III) energy storage technologies;
and
(IV) hybrid systems.
(E) To reduce the cost and risk across the lifespan
of wind energy technologies, including--
(i) manufacturing, permitting,
construction, operations, maintenance, and
recycling; and
(ii) through the development of solutions
to transportation barriers to wind components.
(F) To reduce and mitigate any potential negative
impacts of wind energy technologies on--
(i) human communities;
(ii) military operations;
(iii) aviation;
(iv) radar; and
(v) wildlife and wildlife habitats.
(G) To address barriers to the commercialization
and export of wind energy technologies.
(H) To support the domestic wind industry,
workforce, and supply chain.
(3) Targets.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish targets
for the program relating to near-term (up to 2 years), mid-term
(up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 years) challenges to
the advancement of wind energy technologies, including onshore
and offshore technologies.
(b) Activities.--
(1) Types of activities.--In carrying out the program, the
Secretary shall carry out research, development, demonstration,
and commercialization activities, including--
(A) awarding grants and awards, on a competitive,
merit-reviewed basis;
(B) performing precompetitive research and
development;
(C) establishing or maintaining demonstration
facilities and projects, including through stewardship
of existing facilities such as the National Wind Test
Center;
(D) providing technical assistance;
(E) entering into contracts and cooperative
agreements;
(F) providing small business vouchers;
(G) conducting education and outreach activities;
(H) conducting workforce training activities; and
(I) conducting analyses, studies, and reports.
(2) Subject areas.--The Secretary shall carry out research,
development, testing, evaluation, demonstration, and
commercialization activities in the following subject areas:
(A) Wind power plant performance, operations, and
security.
(B) New materials and designs relating to all
hardware, software, and components of wind energy
technologies, including alternatives to minerals and
other commodities from foreign sources that are
determined to be vulnerable to disruption.
(C) Advanced wind energy manufacturing technologies
and practices, including materials, processes, and
design.
(D) Offshore wind-specific projects and plants,
including--
(i) the deep water floating systems,
materials, components, and operation of
offshore facilities; and
(ii) the monitoring and analysis of site
and environmental considerations unique to
offshore sites.
(E) Integration of wind energy technologies with--
(i) the electric grid, including
transmission, distribution, microgrids, and
distributed energy systems; and
(ii) other energy technologies, including--
(I) other generation sources;
(II) demand response technologies;
and
(III) energy storage technologies.
(F) Methods to improve the lifetime, maintenance,
recycling, and reuse of wind energy components and
systems.
(G) Wind power forecasting and atmospheric
measurement systems, including for turbines and plant
systems of varying height.
(H) Hybrid wind energy systems that incorporate
diverse--
(i) generation sources;
(ii) loads; and
(iii) storage technologies.
(I) Reducing, including through education and
outreach activities, market barriers to the adoption of
wind energy technologies, such as impacts on, or
challenges relating to--
(i) distributed wind technologies,
including the development of best practices,
models, and voluntary streamlined processes for
local permitting of distributed wind energy
systems to reduce costs;
(ii) airspace;
(iii) military uses;
(iv) radar;
(v) local communities;
(vi) wildlife and wildlife habitats; and
(vii) any other appropriate matter, as
determined by the Secretary.
(J) Advanced physics-based and data analysis
computational tools, in coordination with the high-
performance computing programs of the Department of
Energy.
(K) Transformational technologies for harnessing
wind energy.
(L) Other research areas that advance the purposes
of the program, as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Prioritization.--In carrying out activities under the
program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that--
(A) are located in geographically diverse regions
of the United States;
(B) support the development or demonstration of
projects--
(i) in collaboration with tribal energy
development organizations, Indian tribes,
tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian
community-based organizations, or territories
or freely associated states; or
(ii) in economically distressed areas;
(C) can be replicated in a variety of regions and
climates;
(D) include business commercialization plans that
have the potential for--
(i) domestic manufacturing and production
of wind energy technologies; or
(ii) exports of wind energy technologies;
and
(E) satisfy any other priority that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate.
(4) Coordination.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall coordinate activities under the program with
other relevant programs and capabilities of the Department of
Energy and other Federal research programs.
(c) Wind Technician Training Grant Program.--The Secretary may
award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to purchase
large pieces of wind component equipment, such as nacelles, towers, and
blades, for use in training wind technician students in onshore or
offshore wind applications.
(g)(d) Wages.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all
laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on
projects funded by grants under this section shall be paid wages at
rates not less than those prevailing on projects of a similar character
in the locality, as determined by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance
with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code.
<DELETED> (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) $103,692,000 for fiscal year 2020;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) $108,876,600 for fiscal year 2021;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) $114,320,430 for fiscal year 2022;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) $120,036,452 for fiscal year 2023;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) $126,038,274 for fiscal year 2024.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Section 4 of the Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C.
12003) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (i) by striking paragraph (1);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (ii) by redesignating paragraphs
(2) through (5) as paragraphs (1) through (4),
respectively; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) in subsection (c), in the matter
preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``the Wind Energy
Research Program,''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Section 931(a)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231(a)(2)) is amended--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) by striking subparagraph (B);
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (C)
through (E) as subparagraphs (B) through (D),
respectively.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Section 636 of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17215) is amended by striking
``section 931(a)(2)(E)(i)'' and all that follows through the
period at the end and inserting ``subparagraph (D)(i) of
section 931(a)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16231(a)(2)).''.</DELETED>
(e) Wind Energy Program Strategic Vision.--
(1) In general.--Not later than September 1, 2021, and
every 6 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the strategic vision, progress, goals, and
targets of the program, including assessments of wind energy
markets and manufacturing.
(2) Preparation.--The Secretary shall coordinate the
preparation of the report under paragraph (1) with--
(A) existing peer review processes;
(B) studies conducted by the National Laboratories;
and
(C) the multiyear program planning required under
section 994 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16358).
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the program $120,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Section 4 of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 12003) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``wind,
photovoltaics, and solar thermal'' and inserting
``photovoltaics, solar thermal, and other technology'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``wind, photovoltaics, and solar thermal
energy'' and inserting ``photovoltaics, solar thermal,
and other energy technology'';
(B) by striking paragraph (1); and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as
paragraphs (1) through (4), respectively; and
(3) in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``the Wind Energy Research Program,''.
(b) Section 931(a)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16231(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (E) as
subparagraphs (B) through (D), respectively.
(c) Section 636 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
(42 U.S.C. 17215) is amended by striking ``section 931(a)(2)(E)(i)''
and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting
``subparagraph (D)(i) of section 931(a)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231(a)(2)).''.
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to establish a
program for wind energy research, development, and
demonstration, and for other purposes.''.
Calendar No. 387
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2660
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program for wind energy research, development, and
demonstration, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 18, 2019
Reported with amendments and an amendment to the title
Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019
#2660 | S Congress #116
Policy Area: Energy
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resourcesAtmospheric science and weatherBirdsEconomic developmentElectric power generation and transmissionEmployment and training programsEnergy efficiency and conservationEnergy researchEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchGovernment information and archivesManufacturingMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMaterialsResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentSolid waste and recyclingTechnology assessmentTechnology transfer and commercialization
Last Action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 387. (12/18/2019)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text